J.K. Rowling announced on April 26, through Pottermore that she was going to publish the screenplay for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." This follows a past announcement of the a two-part published book on the screenplay of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," the stage play opening in London’s West End this summer.
I love the entire "Harry Potter" series, and Harry Potter was a crucial part of my identity as I was growing up. I recently cried my way through Harry Potter World at Universal Studios but I don’t think this new screenplay book release is a good idea.
Unlike the limited viewings that "Cursed Child" is going to get as a play based in London, "Fantastic Beasts" is a feature-length film that will be shown across the world. I entirely support the screenplay release of "Cursed Child" due to the large restrictions on people being able to actually view the live version, with those able to view it being primarily located in London or having the funds to get themselves to London. I don’t feel the same way about a film that anyone willing to spend $10 will be able to see.
When I was growing up the release of a new "Harry Potter" book was precious. I thought of new books and movies as rare and as things to look forward to, but now it’s starting to seem like it’s a constant onslaught of “look at this new thing!” While I’ll always be excited to see more canon Harry Potter creations I think the constant release of new material at such a high rate is starting to diminish just how special it all is to me.
Maybe it’s because I’m no longer a starry-eyed child; maybe it’s because I’m now a cynical college student overloaded with work and internships. (I doubt this, though, because just this January I cried standing in Diagon Alley in Harry Potter World.) It just doesn’t feel as special anymore. It’s starting to feel like J.K. Rowling is just releasing things to release things, and the "Fantastic Beasts" screenplay is what put me over the edge.
I don’t see the point in releasing a screenplay book on a film that anyone can go see. If it were a book like the others in the series maybe I would react better to it, but I feel like the magic of the Harry Potter world and the feel of what the producers want to come across will be exceptionally better in the actual film than in the screenplay. Never mind the fact that the film is already based on a released companion book released in 2001 (which I diligently bought and read when it was originally released).
